NEWS
First US firm opens in Dublin
I
reland’s booming multinational sector has lured the first American law firm to open an office in this country. Chicagobased Schiff Hardin & Waite has affiliated with Dublin solicitors McKeever Rowan. The American firm will provide services to clients in Ireland, the UK and Europe who want to enter the US market or expand there. The link-up will also give McKeever Rowan a base in the US, allowing it to win new clients who want to take advantage of business opportunities in the EU, where the Dublin practice has local law firm affiliations. The Chicago firm’s move to Ireland was driven by one of its partners, James Fahy, who emigrated to the US from Galway 17 years ago. He is now heading up
James Fahy: good location
the American practice’s Dublin office at the McKeever Rowan headquarters. He told the Gazette this month that the high level of American investment in Ireland was central to his firm’s decision
to base its European operation here. ‘Some 25% of all US investment in the EU is in Ireland, which makes it a good location for an American firm’, he said. Fahy added that his firm spent two weeks seeking a suitable Irish affiliate, and chose McKeever Rowan because of the similarity between the two companies. Both are long-established commercial firms which specialise in litigation and general legal work. ‘We both felt that there were mutual areas which we could develop’, Gerard Walsh of McKeever Rowan explained. Under the terms of the deal, both firms will remain independent and be solely responsible for their own work. But they will work together on a non-exclusive basis to serve existing and new clients.
Solicitors to challenge PI advertising ban
S
ome solicitors are planning to challenge the proposed ban on advertising for personal injury clients as soon as the new rules become law. Irish members of the British-based Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) could take the State to court to get the law overturned. The Solicitors’ (Amendment) Bill, 1998 prohibits ‘advertising expressly or by implication referring to claims for damages for per-
sonal injury’. The legislation – sparked by the public outcry over the army deafness claims – is backed by the Law Society. But the move has been criticised by APIL’s regional organiser, Dublin solicitor John Schutte, who claims that it is unconstitutional as it seeks to restrict the public’s right to seek redress for personal injury. He confirmed to the Gazette that APIL is canvassing its 25 Irish members on their views, and
said it would then make a final decision on what steps to take. But whether or not the organisation decides to mount a challenge on behalf of its members, Schutte said that individual solicitors may decide to act themselves to contest the ban. ‘There is a group of Dublin solicitors who will challenge it. They have retained a senior counsel who says there is a good case on two points of law’, he said.
Law Society Yearbook and diary
T
he 1999 edition of the Law Society Yearbook and diary will be ready to post out by early November. The diary is specifically designed for solicitors and contains information and useful phone numbers, including details of law terms, government departments, financial institutions, State-sponsored bodies and legal professional services. As a special bonus, everyone who gets their order in by post or fax by 30 September will be placed in a prize draw. The winner will
JULY 1998
John Donnelly and Gary More, Directors of Ashville Media Group, present SBA chairman Tom Menton with a cheque for £7,500
receive a weekend for two in Dromoland Castle in County Clare.
All proceeds from the sales of the diary go to the profession’s voluntary charity, the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association (SBA), which has benefited greatly in recent years. ‘The benevolent association greatly appreciates all those members who purchased a diary this year’, says SBA chairman Tom Menton, ‘and we want next year’s diary to be even more successful’. Last year the association paid out over £188,000 to those needing assistance – an increase of over 40% since 1990.
BRIEFLY Scots solicitors ‘must take part in government’ The Scottish Law Society’s new President wants his members to take an active role in the country’s new legislature when it is established later this year. In his first public statement, Philip Dry urged lawyers to stand for election and stressed the importance of law reform in the new Scottish Parliament. ‘Solicitors must be seen to be taking the initiative and playing a proper and appropriate role in the way that Scotland is governed’, he said. 1,200 separation cases listed Close to 1,200 judicial separation cases were waiting to be heard at the beginning of the year, according to the latest figures from the Department of Justice. In the 12 months to 31 July last year, 1,382 separations had been granted and 1,223 new applications had been received. But 1,534 cases were carried forward from the previous 12 months, leaving 1,126 applications on hand. IVUTEC appoints Cork firm IVUTEC has appointed the Cork-based Michael Daly Consultancy to act as the independent financial consultancy for training in the use of its Italax professional practice management software. Italax claims to be the most commonly used accountancy software in Irish solicitors’ firms New brochure on divorce The Law Society’s Family Law and Civil Legal Aid Committee has produced a brochure on divorce which members can send to clients and potential clients seeking information on this area. The brochure was produced in response to reports from firms that they have had a high number of enquiries on this subject. The brochure can be obtained from the Society at a cost of £6.65 for a pack of 25.
LAW SOCIETY GAZETTE 11